Please share your thoughts and stories on how you are dealing with the country wide lockdown with the OD Union at [email protected]

15 May

Nojerico Frances Jimba, a dedicated mother and lifelong teacher lived most of her years in the township of Gugulethu Cape Town. She had relocated from the Eastern Cape with her then small family, her firstborn son Kennedy (1983S) and late husband Mr HM Jimba, in 1965.  Gugulethu is also where she unexpectedly succumbed to lung failure and subsequently died on May, 3rd 2020.

Born in the eNgcobo village of the Eastern Cape on the 16th of September 1942 she attended the local primary school in Tsomo where she grew up. Her late mother, Mrs NV Hobe - also a teacher - insisted on sending her to boarding school, where she would matriculate and further her studies at Hilltown College. This is where the small village girl would find her wings and flourish to obtain her PTC. A natural sportswoman, she took up netball, athletics and her favourite sport tennis and ironically her courtship with her husband to be, ensued. She would later graduate from UNISA in 1987 with a BA degree.

Nojerico married her husband at eMatolweni village in Tsomo in 1964 and a year later moved to Cape Town. As a housewife and doting mother, she found her first job as a sales-rep at Lewis furniture store.

Due to the 1976 uprising, the Jimba family returned to the Eastern Cape where her teaching career would formally begin at JSS Mayekiso 1977 - 1979.

While juggling between her career, studies and growing family she followed her husband (Mr Jimba taught at Bishops, 1975-79 – he had come from the UCT African Languages Department and was the pioneer IsiXhosa teacher at the College) and took the post of being the first Black isiXhosa teacher at the prestigious Diocesan College Preparatory School, also known as Bishops Prep, 1980 - 1987. During her tenure at Bishops Prep, she also became a part-time teacher at Micklefield, 1980 - 1986. After Bishops Prep she returned to her roots and taught at Gugulethu Comprehensive School 1987 until her retirement in 2008. Post-retirement she dabbled in script translation for radio adverts while invigilating at the University of the Western Cape’s isiXhosa department.

Frances is survived by her four children - Kennedy, Ayanda, Zola, Zamuxolo (1994S) and five grandchildren.

The Bishops Community sends condolences to the Jimba Family for the passing of Frances Jimba, their beloved Mother/Grandmother.

Lala ngoxolo maDunjane. Ugqatso lakho ulifezile.

May Her Dear Soul Rest in Peace.

Obituary written by Dr Paul Murray on behalf of the Jimba family. 

Archives and History

The Avenue at Bishops is entering its third generation of trees. The first was in 1846 (three years prior to the school's establishment); the second in 1943; and supplementary planting is underway.

The Robert Gray Consecration Memorial 

The founder of Diocesan College, was the first Bishop of Cape Town.The monument to commemorate Bishop Gray's consecration, is at the start of St George's Mall next to the Taj Hotel. 

Richard Cock (1966O) Reminiscences of Bishops and its strong Music tradition

In a series of articles and reminiscing about his schoolboy days, Richard Cock (at Bishops from 1962-67, including his PM year), shares his memories of two Head Choristers at Bishops.

OD Updates

How Sebastian Prentice (2016S) finds new ways to keep others fit

Seb has leveraged his conditioning skills learnt from playing high-performance sports and social media to create a community whereby he encourages people to work out. Since the lockdown, he has had to get a bit more creative. Read the Men's Health article below. 

Jack's Journal

Former Chairman, Bruce Jack, has recently just released his latest winemaking endeavour; Jack Journal. It is a written publication which captures the spirit of what goes into making wine. Not the details but the soul and spirit. A wine publication which is different from those which came before, according to Richard Siddle of The Buyer. Click here to read Richard’s article on Jack Journal.

Many different OD contributors feature in the journal, such as; Dr WP van Zyl (1997K) Former ODU Secretary, Donovan Marsh (1987W), Mike Clarke (1987O), Nick Robinson (1987S), Christian Eedes (1988B), Dr Greg Mills (1979O) and David MacGregor (O, 1979) Trustee of HeadStart Trust, Vice Chairman on ODU committee. Follow the link below to view volume 1 of Jack Journal.  

What can – and can’t – we learn from the official Covid-19 data?

"That government and official agencies should be trying to present more useful and timely data is indisputable; however, doing so should not detract from their core missions", writes UCT Professor of demography Tom Moultrie (1987W) for News24. Read his article on interpreting Covid data below. 

Milestone birthdays this month

We would like to congratulate the following on turning 80 years old this month; Donald Nelson (1957G) on 1 May, Herbert John Gaylard (1958G) on 9 May and Robin Fox (1957G) on 12 May. 

School Updates

The Michael Ford (2020 Headboy) Challenge

Bishops Head Boy, Michael Ford, showed true leadership by issuing an exercise challenge to his peers in order to raise funds for VUSA's Covid -19 relief efforts.  He has sourced five signed Stormers jersey's as prizes. To be eligible to win a jersey, just sign up and send your video. Mike's challenge has thus far raised R6500.  To see the challenge, click below (Disclaimer: it's exhausting just watching it).  Thank you for your support Mike. 

VUSA May Newsletter

ODs Around The World

UK Newsletter

The latest news from the UK branch of the ODU and a taste of what's to come for the rest of 2020

Deaths & Obituaries

Brynn Simpson (1988S)

Brynn died on the 5th of May after experiencing a heart attack. He was the CEO of the farm, and also was the CEO of Deep Blue Aquatics. A full obituary will follow in due course.

Upcoming Events

Due to the government’s declaration of a country wide lockdown, all events have been postponed indefinitely.

OD Connect

Thousands of ODs have registered on our online platform. 

Get in Touch

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